The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Wednesday that Preliminary testing of a dead peregrine falcon and a dead black-headed gull have tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus, Xinhua reported. A spokesman for the city's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that further confirmatory tests are being conducted. According to AFCD, on Jan. 30, the dead peregrine falcon and black-headed gull were found and collected in the park of Seaview Crescent, Man Tung Road, Tung Chung and Chun Yin Square Playground, Yuen Long respectively. Peregrine falcons are rare winter visitors to Hong Kong, while the black-headed gull is a common visitor. The spokesman said that there were no poultry farms within three km of where the dead peregrine falcon was found, but four chicken farms are within three km of where the dead black-headed gull was found. AFCD staff inspected the farms and found no abnormal mortality or symptoms of avian influenza among the chicken flocks. These farms will be put under enhanced surveillance. "People should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them," he said, adding that all relevant government departments will continue to remain highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against avian influenza.
